Celiac Disease Doctor in Orlando, FL
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a common genetic disorder that afflicts the small intestine portion of the digestive system. It compromises the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food.
People with Celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein substance found in wheat, barley, rye, vitamins, and some medicines. Their bodies respond to gluten by destroying the villi projections in the small intestine. These projections absorb nutrients and deposit them into the bloodstream. When the villi are destroyed or damaged, the person cannot take in important nutrients.
Therefore, Celiac disease is a disease of nutrient malabsorption as well as an abnormal response of the immune system to gluten. No cure exists for the disease, but Orlando Gastroenterology physicians help patients manage symptoms.
What are the symptoms of Celiac disease?
- Vomiting
- Chronic diarrhea
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Light-colored, bad-smelling stool
- Bloating and pain in the abdomen
- Irritability
- Failure to thrive
- Delayed growth
- Short stature
- Delayed puberty
- Enamel defects in permanent teeth
- Fatigue
- Bone/joint pain
- Arthritis
- Anemia
- Seizures
- Skipped menstrual periods
- Numb/tingling hands and feet
- Canker sores in the mouth
- Itchy skin rash
- Bone loss
- Depression or anxiety
- Infertility or troubles getting pregnant
- Weight loss
- Acid reflux
- Vomiting and nausea
How is Celiac disease diagnosed?
An Orlando Gastroenterology physician will implement several tests to diagnose Celiac disease, including blood tests, an intestinal biopsy, testing for dermatitis herpetiformis, and celiac disease screenings.
Treatment of Celiac disease
A gluten-free diet is the only treatment for Celiac disease. Completely avoiding gluten will stop symptoms, reverse intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. Healing begins immediately. Children may be symptom-free within three to six months; the small intestine in an adult may take up to two years to heal.
Eliminating gluten from one’s diet means avoiding foods such as wheat, barley, bulgur, rye, semolina, triticale, durum, malt, farina, graham flour, einkorn, kamut, and spelt.
Processed foods that may contain gluten include gravy, French fries, soups, soy sauce, sauces, candy, brown rice syrup, matzo, vegetables in sauce, bouillon, tortilla chips, potato chips, hot dogs, cold cuts, sausage, and imitation fish.
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Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is a common genetic disorder that afflicts the small intestine portion of the digestive system. It compromises the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food.
People with Celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein substance found in wheat, barley, rye, vitamins, and some medicines. Their bodies respond to gluten by destroying the villi projections in the small intestine. These projections absorb nutrients and deposit them into the bloodstream. When the villi are destroyed or damaged, the person cannot take in important nutrients.
Therefore, Celiac disease is a disease of nutrient malabsorption as well as an abnormal response of the immune system to gluten. No cure exists for the disease, but Orlando Gastroenterology physicians help patients manage symptoms.
What are the symptoms of Celiac disease?
- Vomiting
- Chronic diarrhea
- Constipation
- Weight loss
- Light-colored, bad-smelling stool
- Bloating and pain in the abdomen
- Irritability
- Failure to thrive
- Delayed growth
- Short stature
- Delayed puberty
- Enamel defects in permanent teeth
- Fatigue
- Bone/joint pain
- Arthritis
- Anemia
- Seizures
- Skipped menstrual periods
- Numb/tingling hands and feet
- Canker sores in the mouth
- Itchy skin rash
- Bone loss
- Depression or anxiety
- Infertility or troubles getting pregnant
- Weight loss
- Acid reflux
- Vomiting and nausea
How is Celiac disease diagnosed?
An Orlando Gastroenterology physician will implement several tests to diagnose Celiac disease, including blood tests, an intestinal biopsy, testing for dermatitis herpetiformis, and celiac disease screenings.
Treatment of Celiac disease
A gluten-free diet is the only treatment for Celiac disease. Completely avoiding gluten will stop symptoms, reverse intestinal damage, and prevent further damage. Healing begins immediately. Children may be symptom-free within three to six months; the small intestine in an adult may take up to two years to heal.
Eliminating gluten from one’s diet means avoiding foods such as wheat, barley, bulgur, rye, semolina, triticale, durum, malt, farina, graham flour, einkorn, kamut, and spelt.
Processed foods that may contain gluten include gravy, French fries, soups, soy sauce, sauces, candy, brown rice syrup, matzo, vegetables in sauce, bouillon, tortilla chips, potato chips, hot dogs, cold cuts, sausage, and imitation fish.